betham



(No Model.)

A. P. BETHAM & H. B. WOLNO 4 Sheets- Sheet 1. UGH.l

APPARATUS POR DSENGAGING SHIPS BOATS PROM THEIR SUPPORTING TAGKL'B. N o. 425,018.

(No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 2. A. F. BETHAM 8v H. vB. WOOLNOUIGH.

R m T M O R F S T A 0 B S P I E S G N I G A G N E S I D R 0 F S U T A R A P P A SUPPORTING TAGKLE.

l@ WJ f NA PETERS, PlwlmLnhngrlvher, Walhingwr D. Cv.

(No Model.) f 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. P. BETHAM 8v H. B. WOOLNOUGH.

APPARATUS POR. DISENGAGING SHIPS BOATS PROM'THEIR SUPPORTING TAGKLE.

No. 425,018. Patented Apr. 1890 (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 4. A.l P. BETHAM in H. B. WGOLNOUGH. APPARATUS FOR DISNGAGING SHIPS BOATS FRUM THEIR` SUPPOR'NNG TAGKLB. No. 425,018.

PatentQdApr. 8, 1890.

I l l UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED FREDO. BETHAM AND HENRY B. WOOLNOUGH, OF BALMAIN, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES. V

APPARATUS FOR DISENGAGING SHIPS BUATS FROMTHEIR SUPPORTING-TACKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,018, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed January 10, 1890. Serial No. 336,527. (No model.)

.T all whom. t petty concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED FREDERIC BETHAM, Writing-clerk, and HENRY BETHAM VOOLNOUGH, civil and mechanical engineer,

'5 both subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Balmain, near Sydney, in the British Colony ofNew South Wales, have invented a new and useful Improved Apparatus for Disengaging Ships Boats from their Supporting-Tackles, of which the following is a specification. a

This invention has been specially devised in order that in lowering ships boats and upon their evenly floating, or the whole of their weight being taken by the water and upon their weight being relieved from off the whole of the supporting-tackles, said boats may be automatically, instantaneously', and safely disengaged from said supportingtackles.

This improved apparatus is always attached to and forms part of the boat-fittings, but at the same time presents no or very little obstruction to all ordinary movements therein. It is cheaply constructed, easily manipulated, and is not likely to get out of order.

This improved apparatus for disengaging ships boats from their supporting-tackles consists, primarily, of peculiarly-constructed counterbalanced hooks or catches (to take into rings or links on the supporting or hoisting and lowering tackles) connected together so as to have simultaneous movement, and adapted when not supporting weight to take disengaged positions. One of these peculiarly-constructed hooks or catches is iiXed in the boat o'n each end thwart or at convenient points near the stem and stern, and they are connected by suitable levers and rods one to the other.

This improved apparatus consists, second arily, in the particular combination and arrangement of mechanical parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood, reference will now be made to the drawings herewith, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of a life-boat having the improved disengaging apparatus therein. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively sectional elevations of similar boats to that shown in Fig.

1, the former having a central longitudinal seat, while the latter has only thwarts. Fig.

4 is an enlarged crosssection through thwart of boat shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an end 55 view ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. et. Fig.

6 shows cross-section through thwart; and Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and end views, respectively, of thedisengaginggear in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a partial section of a boat, showing a 6c, modified form of connecting-gear in the disengaging apparatus.

Referring first to the simplest form of the disengagin g apparatus-namely, that used in boats having a central longitudinal seat, and shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5-A is hook or catch, and B connecting-pivot or longitudinal spindle thereof; O, holdingbrackets; D, the boat, and E supporting or hoisting and lowering `gear ends. A is 7o weighted lever end; A2, fastening-pin; B', lever, or handle. B2 shows cranked part for passage of mast; O', fastening-bolts; C2, covering-plate; D', thwart; D2, stay-bolts of thwart; D3, slot in thwart.

In use, when the boat is free, each weighted end A is in its lowermost position and keeps its hook or catch Aopen and in slot D3 just clear of the upper face of the thwart. 'Vhen the boat is to be hoisted, the tackles are low- 8o ered until the ring or link ends E rest on edges of slots D3, when the boatman, grasping, turns handle B and brings the gear into the positions shown and simultaneously engages the hooks A with the tackle ends E, S5 which are then hoisted, and, taking the weight of the boat, retain the gear in engagement.

In lowering the boat the apparatus retains its engaged position until the whole of the weight of the boat is taken by the water, or is 9o otherwise relieved from off the tackles, when the weighted ends A simultaneously and instantaneously disengage the hooks A from out of ends E. Should one end of the boat rest or float before the other, the weight on 95 the hook A at the still suspended end of the boat prevents the fall of the weighted lever end A thus preventing the pivot or rod B from turning and the hooks or catches A at both ends from becoming disengaged unless roo simultaneously. The cranked part B2of rod B allows of free movement when the mast is shipped in the boat; but this might be provided for also by a slot in the mast, into which the rod B might be sprung during the shipping of said mast.

Referring now to the form of the disengaging-gear for use in boats having uo central longitudinal seat, and shown in Figs. l, 3, G, 7, and 8, a is hook or catch; b, longitudinal connecting rod or spindle; c, holding-brack ets; CZ, connecting-rod; e, the boat; f, supporting or hoisting and lowering tackle ends. a is pivot; u2, weighted lever end; e3, lug; a4, spanner or key end; b, supporting brackets orbearings; b2, levers; c', fastening-bolts; 2, cover-plate; e', thwart; e2, keel; e3, slot.

In use, when the boat is free, the weighted ends a2 retain the hooks or catches a open and in slot e3 just clear of the upper face of the thwart. Then the boat is to be hoisted, the tackles are lowered until the ring or link ends f rest on edges of slots e3, when the boatmen, by means ot a handle or key on ends a, turn pivots a and engage the hooks a and the tackle ends f, and the latter being hoisted the weight of the boat retains the gear in such engagement.

In lowering the boat the apparatus retains the engaged positions until the whole of the weight is taken by the water or otherwise relieved from oft the tackles, when the weighted lever ends a2 sim nltan eously an d auto matieally disengage the hooks a from out of ends f. Should one end of the boat rest or iioat before the other, the weight on the hook a at the still supported or suspended end of the boat prevents the fall of the weighted lever end a2, thus preventing, by means of lug a, conneeting-rod (fl, lever b2, and longitudinal rod l), the pivot o. at the weight-released end of the boat from turning and the hooks a from becoming disengaged unless simultaneously.

Referring to the modified construction of the connecting-gear of the disengagingdiooks, the whole of the parts are similar to those lastly described, with the exception that for the connecting rods and levers for insuring simultaneous movement of the hooks o1' catches the following is substituted, namely: On the pivots a sprocket or chain wheels g are iixed, and on rod or spindle b other sprocket or chain wheels 71, are also fixed, and around each set of these wheels an endless chain is wound, so that any movement of one pivot will be communicated to the rod l), and by it to the other pivot.

Having now particularly described and explained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is l. The improved apparatus for disengaging ships boats from theirsupporting-tackle, consisting', essentially, of a gravity-hook at each end of the boat, a connection between the hooks adapted to positively and simultaneously move the same into their operative position, said hooks being adapted to be held in said operative position by the stress of the supporting-tackle exerted thereon and to automatically move into their non-operative position when relieved of such stress, sub stantially as described.

2. The improved apparatus for disen gagin g ships boats from their supporting-tackle, comprising a gravity-hook at each end of the boat` a continuons spindle adapted to move the hooks simultaneouslyinto their operative position, said hooks being adapted to be held in said operative position by the stress exerted thereon by the supporting-tackle and to automatically move into their non-operative position when relieved ot' such stress, substantially as described.

3. Theimproved apparatus for disengaging ships boats from their supporting-tackle, comprising a gravity-hook at each end ol' the boat, a continuous spindle, and a connection between the spindle and hooksadapted to move the same simultaneously into their operative position, said hooks being adapted to be held in said operative position by the stress exerted thereon bythe supporting-tackle and to automatically move into their non-operative position when relieved of such stress, substantially as described.

4. The improved apparatus for disengagin sh ips boats from theirsupporting-tackle, comprising a gravity-hook at each end of the boat, a continuons spindle, and a lexible connection between the spindle and hooks adapted to move the same simultaneously into their operative position, said hooks being adapted to be held in said operative position by the stress exerted thereon by the supporting-,tackle and to automatically move into their non-operative position when relieved of such stress, substantially as described.

5. In apparatus for disengaging ships boats from their supporting-tackles, the combination and arrangement, with hooks or catches, (on or in thethwarts of said boats,) eounterbalaneed to take disengaged positions when relieved of weight, of a longitudinal spindle or rocking bar (on the bottom or other convenient part of the boat) and sprocket or chain wheels on the pivots of said hooks or catches and on the said longitudinal spindle, with endless-chain connection thereon for insuring simultaneous movement of said hooks or catches, substantially as herein described and explained.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two Witnesses.

A. FREDG. BETIIAM. H. B. WOOLNOUGH. Vviitnesses:

FRED WALSH, THOMAS JAMES WARD.

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